Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma levels in Michigan and Wisconsin dairy farmers.

Carcionogenic embryonic antigen (CEA) titers were determined for 611 Michigan farmers exposed to PBB and a control nonexposed population of 139 Wisconsin farmers. The overall prevalence of elevated CEA titers was slightly higher in the Michigan study group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Smoking and/or significant past or present conditions (inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, polyps, liver disease, chronic lung disease, or malignancies) were found to result in higher prevalence of elevated CEA titers, in both the Michigan study group and the Wisconsin control group, thus confirming previous reports. In addition, serum PBB concentrations appeared to be positively correlated with CEA titers. The possibility that the effect of PBB concentrations appeared to be positively correlated with CEA titers. The possibility that the effect of PBB may be additive to that of other factors which are known to result in an increased prevalence of elevated CEA titers is discussed.